Measuring Spoons

Eight sets, 41 spoons, many runs in the dishwasher, and umpteen jars of herbs: We took the measure of measuring spoons, demanding accuracy, comfort, and sturdiness.

How We Tested

When you’re shopping for measuring spoons, you can find enough choices to make your head spin: plastic or metal, magnetic or looped on a chain, long- or short-handled, round, oval, or square—even in the shape of hearts and flowers (get real!). Does any of this affect how well the spoons function? We gathered eight sets, priced from $4.84 to $21.99: our old favorite and seven challengers. The spoons we tested were made from both plastic and stainless steel. They came in varying shapes and designs, and to be included, they had to have 1-tablespoon, 1-teaspoon, 1/2-teaspoon, 1/4-teaspoon, and 1/8-teaspoon measures. (Our recipes often call for 1/8 teaspoon, but many sets on the market don’t include this size.)

We used every spoon in each set to perform common tasks: measuring liquid and flour and scooping spices and herbs from narrow jars, including leafy, static-prone dried oregano; powdery ground sage; granular celery seeds; and slippery red pepper flakes. We assessed how easy and comfortable the spoons were to use, averaging the opinions of testers, and finally ran the spoons through many dishwasher cycles to check how well they’d hold up over time. If numbers faded, bowls warped, stains materialized, or spoons rusted, they were out of the running.

You’d think that when you measure out a tablespoon, you’re getting exactly a tablespoon. That’s the point of a measuring spoon, after all. In fact, manufacturers may not have the size perfect on every spoon in a set, plus design flaws can make perfect measurements difficult. To confirm the accuracy of each spoon, we carefully measured water and weighed it on a sensitive scale, repeating this multiple times with multiple testers and averaging the results. It was clear which spoons were consistently over or under the mark. True, the worst offenders were inaccurate by no more than 1 gram. But if you consider that a gram is nearly the weight of 1/4 teaspoon of water, your precisely measured ingredients will be incorrect. Our top choices were almost perfectly accurate for each spoon in the set, and their designs facilitated precise measurements.

In the test kitchen, we have found that the most accurate way to measure dry ingredients is a method we call “dip and sweep.” You scoop up a heaping spoonful of the ingredient and then sweep across the rim of the measuring spoon with a flat blade to level the contents. Not all spoons in our lineup allowed this. Some had a bump or dip in the handle where it met the bowl, making it hard to get a clean sweep. Dipping was difficult and uncomfortable with some sets, especially those with spoons with thick handles tightly attached to their mates, making us hold a fistful of bulky spoons while we measured. Spoons with narrow handles were easier to use as long as they were lightweight. Sure, you could simply detach the spoons from the rings, but then you have to hunt for unlinked spoons in your kitchen drawers. We preferred spoons that were comfortable to use while on the ring or that could be easily pulled off (and returned to) their rings.

For reaching into spice jars, shorter, thicker handles were a hindrance. The most expensive set we tested had the longest handles—nearly 5 inches. But their heft proved uncomfortable. We preferred sets with slim metal handles for compact storage; a few plastic sets were too chunky and bulky, and static cling made some spices stick to plastic spoons. Metal wasn’t always the answer, though: After a few dishwasher cycles, two metal sets showed rust (including one that claimed to be “stainless” steel).

After taking the measure of every set, we had a tie between one set made from plastic and one from metal. Both offered accurate spoons with long, comfortable handles that extend on a level plane for easy sweeping. With the metal winner, the slim design made using the spoons on the ring simple and comfortable; the plastic set’s bulkier spoons popped on and off the ring easily. The majority of our testers, however, preferred the metal set, which simply felt sturdier in our hands. Our old favorite nudged out the runner-up by a nose.

Try CooksCountry.com FREE for 14 Days

START YOUR 14-DAY FREE TRIAL MEMBERSHIP

Every Recipe, Every Rating, Every Video from Every Magazine & Every Episode!

10+ years of Cook's Country Foolproof Recipes

Complete Cook's Country TV Video Library

3,800+ Equipment Reviews and Ingredient Taste Tests

Step-by-Step Technique Photos

Save Favorites, Create Menus, Print Shopping Lists

Enter your email address

Email is required

How we use your email address

America's Test Kitchen will not sell, rent, or disclose your email address
to third parties unless otherwise notified. Your email address is required
to identify you for free access to content on the site. You will also
receive free newsletters and notification of America's Test Kitchen specials.

Dear Home Cook,

If we were new to CooksCountry.com, we might think, “It’s easy to get free recipes on the Internet. What makes your recipes different?” Well, unlike recipes from blogs, message boards, and other recipe sites, our recipes are exhaustively tested by our team of full-time test cooks until they offer consistently great results. That means fried chicken with a crunchy coating and moist meat, a low-fat recipe makeover for macaroni and cheese that’s as creamy and cheesy as the full-fat version, and fork-tender slow cooker pot roast.

We’re obsessive in our quest to find and foolproof the best of American home cooking, from fuss-free weeknight dinners, to updated, simplified versions of regional specialties, to slow cooker and make ahead meals. CooksCountry.com is the only place you can find every foolproof recipe published in Cook’s Country magazine since 2005, plus objective ratings and test results from both Cook’s Country and Cook’s Illustrated for cookware and supermarket ingredients.

Let us make a simple, no-nonsense offer. Try out our website FREE for a 14-Day, No-Hassle Trial Offer. We’re pretty confident that CooksCountry.com will quickly become an invaluable resource for everything from a quick Tuesday supper to your next get-together with family and friends.

Thanks for your consideration,

The Editors of Cook’s Country

Enter your email address

Email is required

How we use your email address

America's Test Kitchen will not sell, rent, or disclose your email address
to third parties unless otherwise notified. Your email address is required
to identify you for free access to content on the site. You will also
receive free newsletters and notification of America's Test Kitchen specials.

The Results

Winner

Recommended

Design Trifecta 360 Knife Block

Design Trifecta 360 Knife Block

Admittedly expensive, this handsome block certainly seemed to live up to its billing as “the last knife block you ever have to buy.” The heaviest model in our testing, this block was ultrastable, and its durable bamboo exterior was a breeze to clean. Well-placed medium-strength magnets made it easy to attach all our knives, and a rotating base gave us quick access to them. One tiny quibble: The blade of our 12-inch slicing knife stuck out a little

Winner

Recommended

Lodge Classic Cast Iron Skillet, 12"

Lodge Classic Cast Iron Skillet, 12"

Our old winner arrived with the slickest preseasoned interior and only got better. Broad enough to cook two big steaks, it browned foods deeply, and its thorough seasoning ensured that our acidic pan sauce picked up no off-flavors. Though its handle is short, the pan has a helper handle that made lifting easy. It survived abuse testing without a scratch. An excellent pan, at an excellent price, that you’ll never have to replace.

Lodge Classic Cast Iron Skillet, 12"

Lodge Classic Cast Iron Skillet, 12"

Our old winner arrived with the slickest preseasoned interior and only got better. Broad enough to cook two big steaks, it browned foods deeply, and its thorough seasoning ensured that our acidic pan sauce picked up no off-flavors. Though its handle is short, the pan has a helper handle that made lifting easy. It survived abuse testing without a scratch. An excellent pan, at an excellent price, that you’ll never have to replace.

Winner

Recommended

Lodge Classic Cast Iron Skillet, 12"

Lodge Classic Cast Iron Skillet, 12"

Our old winner arrived with the slickest preseasoned interior and only got better. Broad enough to cook two big steaks, it browned foods deeply, and its thorough seasoning ensured that our acidic pan sauce picked up no off-flavors. Though its handle is short, the pan has a helper handle that made lifting easy. It survived abuse testing without a scratch. An excellent pan, at an excellent price, that you’ll never have to replace.

Lodge Classic Cast Iron Skillet, 12"

Lodge Classic Cast Iron Skillet, 12"

Our old winner arrived with the slickest preseasoned interior and only got better. Broad enough to cook two big steaks, it browned foods deeply, and its thorough seasoning ensured that our acidic pan sauce picked up no off-flavors. Though its handle is short, the pan has a helper handle that made lifting easy. It survived abuse testing without a scratch. An excellent pan, at an excellent price, that you’ll never have to replace.

Winner

Recommended

Lodge Classic Cast Iron Skillet, 12"

Lodge Classic Cast Iron Skillet, 12"

Our old winner arrived with the slickest preseasoned interior and only got better. Broad enough to cook two big steaks, it browned foods deeply, and its thorough seasoning ensured that our acidic pan sauce picked up no off-flavors. Though its handle is short, the pan has a helper handle that made lifting easy. It survived abuse testing without a scratch. An excellent pan, at an excellent price, that you’ll never have to replace.

Lodge Classic Cast Iron Skillet, 12"

Lodge Classic Cast Iron Skillet, 12"

Our old winner arrived with the slickest preseasoned interior and only got better. Broad enough to cook two big steaks, it browned foods deeply, and its thorough seasoning ensured that our acidic pan sauce picked up no off-flavors. Though its handle is short, the pan has a helper handle that made lifting easy. It survived abuse testing without a scratch. An excellent pan, at an excellent price, that you’ll never have to replace.

Winner

Recommended

Lodge Classic Cast Iron Skillet, 12"

Lodge Classic Cast Iron Skillet, 12"

Our old winner arrived with the slickest preseasoned interior and only got better. Broad enough to cook two big steaks, it browned foods deeply, and its thorough seasoning ensured that our acidic pan sauce picked up no off-flavors. Though its handle is short, the pan has a helper handle that made lifting easy. It survived abuse testing without a scratch. An excellent pan, at an excellent price, that you’ll never have to replace.

Lodge Classic Cast Iron Skillet, 12"

Lodge Classic Cast Iron Skillet, 12"

Our old winner arrived with the slickest preseasoned interior and only got better. Broad enough to cook two big steaks, it browned foods deeply, and its thorough seasoning ensured that our acidic pan sauce picked up no off-flavors. Though its handle is short, the pan has a helper handle that made lifting easy. It survived abuse testing without a scratch. An excellent pan, at an excellent price, that you’ll never have to replace.

Sign up for our cooking newsletter

How we use your email address
America's Test Kitchen will not sell, rent, or disclose your email address to third parties unless otherwise notified. Your email address is required to identify you for free access to content on the site. You will also receive free newsletters and notification of America's Test Kitchen specials.